After being hampered by a hamstring injury in 2012, the Brockton High graduate was back in the defensive rotation when the Eagles opened the season with a 24-14 win over Villanova on Saturday at Alumni Stadium.

Jim Fenton

His playing time last season was limited almost exclusively to special teams because of a hamstring ailment.

Dominique Williams of Brockton was hurt in the final week of training camp in 2012, an injury that hampered him throughout a long year at The Heights that ended with a 2-10 record.

He managed to get on the field for brief stints at safety in games against Florida State and Army, but Williams was mainly a special teams player for the Eagles after starting five games in the secondary in 2011.

After going through that miserable experience, Williams had BC’s opening day in the 2013 circled on his calendar, knowing it was a fresh start, not only for him but the Eagles as well.

Williams, a 2010 Brockton High graduate, has worked his way back into the rotation in the BC secondary and was on the field during its first defensive series on Saturday afternoon against Villanova.

One year after barely lining up at safety, Williams played on a regular basis when the Eagles struggled past the Wildcats, 24-14, before a crowd of 30,922.

“It felt good to get out there today and just finally letting it loose,’’ said Williams, who was credited with two tackles and just missed having a diving interception off a deflected pass. “It was very frustrating last season. It actually motivated me to stay healthy and get my body right in the offseason, and so far it’s paid off.’’

Williams, who did not play in last year’s opener against Miami, was eager to get things going.

He worked to get the hamstring healthy in the offseason and prepared himself for training camp, sharing strong safety duties with junior Spenser Rositano against Villanova.

“I was so anxious,’’ said Williams, whose fellow Brockton High graduate, cornerback Al Louis-Jean, missed the game due to a suspension for violating team rules. “I was really excited about it.

“Just coming back in the summer and being with the guys and stuff, just anxious is the word I use. I didn’t have any butterflies going into it. I was ready. It felt good being out there.’’

BC found itself trailing Villanova, of the Colonial Athletic Association, 14-7, at halftime after Jamal Abdur-Rahman scored on a 47-yard run following a fake punt and then caught a 27-yard TD pass from John Robertson.

The Eagles, whose lone score in the first half was a 1-yard TD pass from Chase Rettig to Bobby Wolford, then blanked Villanova in the second half. BC’s offense scored 17 unanswered points – a 49-yard TD catch by Alex Amidon (13 catches, 146 yards), a 26-yard run by Andre Williams (23 carries, 114 yards) and a 39-yard Nate Freese field goal.

“I think we just zoned in on our mistakes during halftime and we came out with the same fire,’’ said Williams after BC forced four turnovers. “We knew what we were doing. We just settled down and focused on our defensive keys and our defensive reads. The coaches just called good plays and we executed it.’’

For Williams, it was a positive first step back to the defensive unit after standing on the sideline and watching for a majority of the 2012 season.

“I think I did good, but I can always get better,’’ he said. “I messed up on a couple of plays. We’ll be back here tomorrow and watch the film and learn from it and be ready for Friday.’’

That is when BC opens its Atlantic Coast Conference season, hosting Wake Forest, as the Eagles look to keep taking steps forward after their 2-10 nightmare.

“We definitely have turned the page,’’ said Williams. “We’ve already done that. We’re behind (new coach Steve Addazio). We feel he knows what to do and we’re going to follow him and that (2-10) will not be the outcome this year.’’

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